Trickling filters for upgrading low technology wastewater plants for nitrogen removal.

Previous work through the 1990s in the Thames Water region in the UK has demonstrated the ability of the trickling filter process to produce fully nitrified effluents, reliably throughout the year. The original data used for the nitrification model derivations have been reanalysed, to investigate the degree of nitrogen removal across the process. Removals of total nitrogen ranging from 0% to over 50% were observed across the trickling filter process and calculated total nitrogen removals of 26-63% were obtained when primary treatment was included. The degree of nitrogen removal and biological denitrification (excluding cellular assimilation) was found to be strongly influenced by BOD load, irrigation velocity and media size. Regression models were produced which gave good predictive relationships for the data ranges used. The models produced worked for filters used with and without a recirculation of effluent nitrate which suggests that a significant degree of nitrification occurred in areas of high heterotroph activity (BOD removal). The simplicity and energy efficiency of the trickling filter process, combined with its capacity for full nitrification and partial denitrification, make the process attractive as a combined process used with pond systems in developing countries where nitrogen removal may be required. Some of these synergies have already been developed with the PETRO process in South Africa.     

Determination of dairy wastewater treatability by bio-trickling filter packed with lava rocks - case study PEGAH dairy factory

This paper investigates the effectiveness of a biological trickling filter for the treatment of wastewaters produced by a company manufacturing dairy products. First a bio-trickling column with a height of 150 cm was packed with lava rocks from north mountain of Tehran. It operates with the recirculation of liquid through the packing. In order to startup the pilot scale, steady state condition was gained by pumping activated sludge and dairy wastewater for 23 days. Afterwards, dairy wastewater was added to liquid tank for treatment. Hydraulic retention time (HRT) of treatment decreases from 5 days to 1 day then at HRT of 12, 8, 7, 6 and 4 h. Results show that the average chemical oxygen demand (COD) decreased from 2,750 to 98 mg/L at HRT of 7 h and efficiency of TKN removal was more than 70%. The microorganisms developed in the bio-trickling filter were able to efficiently remove COD levels up to 2,750 mg/L, under aerobic conditions at pH values between 6.8 and 7.2 under low temperature condition between 10 and 13 °C.     

Potential of organic filter materials for treating greywater to achieve irrigation quality: a review

The objectives of this literature review were to: (i) evaluate the impact of greywater generated in rural communities, with the emphasis on Jordanian conditions, on soil, plant and public health and assess the need for treatment of this greywater before it is used for irrigation, and (ii) assess the potential of different types of organic by-products as carrier material in different filter units for removal of pollutants from greywater. Greywater with high BOD5, COD, high concentrations of SS, fat, oil and grease and high levels of surfactants is commonly found in rural areas in Jordan. Oxygen depletion, odour emission, hydrophobic soil phenomena, plant toxicity, blockage of piping systems and microbiological health risks are common problems associated with greywater without previous treatment. Organic by-products such as wood chips, bark, peat, wheat straw and corncob may be used as carrier material in so-called mulch filters for treating wastewater and greywater from different sources. A down-flow-mode vertical filter is a common setup used in mulch filters. Wastewaters with a wide range of SS, cBOD5 and COD fed into different mulch filters have been studied. The different mulch materials achieved SS removal ranging between 51 and 91%, a BOD5 reduction range of 55-99.9%, and COD removal of 51-98%. Most types of mulches achieved a higher organic matter removal than that achieved by an ordinary septic tank. Bark, peat and wood chips filters removed organic matter better than sand and trickling filters, under similar conditions. Release of filter material and increase in COD in the effluent was reported using some mulch materials. In conclusion, some mulch materials such as bark, peat and woodchips seem to have a great potential for treatment of greywater in robust, low-tech systems. They can be expected to be resilient in dealing with variable low and high organic loads and shock loads.     

Multistage wastewater treatment using separated storage driven denitrification and nitrification biofilms.

The feasibility of combining a previously reported storage driven denitrification biofilm, where 80% of influent acetate can be converted to poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), with a suitable nitrification reactor, either submerged or trickling filter design, to achieve complete biological nitrogen removal was tested. The reactor system showed the potential of complete biological nitrogen removal of waste streams with a C/N ratio as low as 3.93 kg COD/kg N-NH3 at an overall nitrogen removal rate of 1.1 mmole NH3/L/h. While the efficiency and the rates of nitrogen removal were higher than what is observed in traditional or simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) systems, there were two problems that require further development: (a) the incomplete draining of the reactor caused ammonia retention and release in the effluent, limiting the overall N-removal and (b) pH drifts in the nitrification step slowed down the rate of nitrification if not corrected by appropriate pH adjustment or buffering.     

折流式曝气生物滤池设备的开发及应用研究

针对三峡库区小城镇生活污水处理特点,研发折流式曝气生物滤池(BBAF)设备,通过将多级串联组合式BAF集成在同心圆式反应器内,形成了良好的力学性能和水力条件.在设计参数下运行时,对SS、COD、NH3-N、TN和TP的平均去除率分别为76％、83％、97％、26％和45％.高气水比有利于COD和NH3-N的去除,但会削弱TN、SS的去除效能,BBAF适宜的气水比为9.当处理负荷在1.5～3.0 m3/h范围内变化时,SS、COD和NH3-N的平均去除率无明显波动,出水水质稳定,表明设备具有较强的抗冲击负荷能力,对小城镇污水量变化系数大的特点具有很好的适用性.     

Fate of endocrine disrupters in waste stabilization pond systems.

The performance in the removal of estrogenicity from wastewater was studied in three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Different treatment processes were evaluated: stabilization ponds and trickling filter. Sampling was performed from the input to the output of the treatment systems. The total estrogenic activity was determined with MCF-7-derived cell lines which express the endogenous estrogen receptor alpha. The two wastewater stabilization ponds with long retention time had high removal of estrogenicity (90% to 95%). Trickling filters despite being effective at removing organic load were less effective in removing estrogenicity (42%), and post tertiary ponds enhanced estrogenicity removal.     

Innovative conception and performance evaluation of a compact on-site treatment system.

The purpose of this study was to develop a new configuration for a compact on-site treatment system, which could become an attractive alternative, from technical, economic, social and environmental viewpoints, to the technologies that are currently employed. The treatment unit consists of a cylindrical tank, where half of the volume is used as a modified septic tank and the other half is divided between an anaerobic hybrid reactor and a trickling filter. An intermittent feeding system was used, with minimum, mean and maximum flowrate settings (Qmin = 0.25l.s(-1), Qmean = 0.50l.s(-1) and Qmax = 1.00l.s(-1)), to reflect the actual operating conditions of a compact on-site treatment system serving a typical dwelling. An average 24-hour hydraulic detention time was used, corresponding to a flowrate of 750l.d(-1). High removal efficiencies and low concentrations of COD, BOD and TSS in the final effluent were achieved, even when the unit was exposed to hydraulic loading peaks during feeding periods at maximum flowrate.     

Dissolved oxygen, COD, nitrogen and phosphorus profiles in a continuous sand filter used for WWTP effluent reclamation

Continuous sand filtration (CSF) offers interesting potential for the extensive treatment of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents for water reclamation and/or restrictive discharge. Research on concentration profiles over the height of the CSF shows that most bacteriological conversions are restricted to the lower part of the filter bed. Dissolved oxygen (DO) rapidly decreases to below 1 mg/L in the first 0.4 m of the filter bed, applying hydraulic velocities of 12.9 ～ 14.9 m/h and 10 ～ 20 mm/min sand velocities, independent of the methanol dosage. The DO decrease agrees with the observed decrease in chemical oxygen demand (COD). At the given operational conditions, NO(x)-N and N-total removal is dedicated to the first 0.9 m of the filter bed. Results show that by optimising the CSF operational conditions the very restrictive effluent N and P values of 2.2 and 0.15 mg/L, respectively, as described in the European Water Framework Directive, can be met.     

Application of subsurface wastewater infiltration system to on-site treatment of domestic sewage under high hydraulic loading rate

In order to enhance the hydraulic loading rate(HLR) of a subsurface wastewater infiltration system(SWIS) used in treating domestic sewage,the intermittent operation mode was employed in the SWIS. The results show that the intermittent operation mode contributes to the improvement of the HLR and the pollutant removal rate. When the wetting-drying ratio(R WD) was 1.0, the pollutant removal rate increased by(13.6 ± 0.3)% for NH3-N,(20.7 ± 1.1)% for TN,(18.6 ± 0.4)% for TP,(12.2 ± 0.5)% for BOD,(10.1 ± 0.3)% for COD, and(36.2 ± 1.2)% for SS, compared with pollutant removal rates under the continuous operation mode. The pollutant removal rate declined with the increase of the HLR. The effluent quality met The Reuse of Urban Recycling Water e Water Quality Standard for Scenic Environment Use(GB/T 18921-2002)even when the HLR was as high as 10 cm/d. Hydraulic conductivity, oxidation reduction potential(ORP), the quantity of nitrifying bacteria, and the pollutant removal rate of NH3-N increased with the decrease of the R WD. For the pollutant removal rates of TP, BOD, and COD, there were no significant difference( p 0.05) under different R WD s. The suggested R WD was 1.0. Relative contribution of the pretreatment and SWIS to the pollutant removal was examined, and more than 80% removal of NH3-N, TN, TP, COD, and BOD occurred in the SWIS.     

Nitrogen removal in an upflow sludge blanket (USB) reactor combined by aerobic biofiltration systems.

A new nitrogen removal process (up-flow sludge blanket and aerobic filter, USB-AF) was proposed and tested with real sewage. In the USB reactor, the larger part of influent organic and nitrogen matters were removed, and ammonia was effectively oxidized in the subsequent aerobic filter. The role of the aerobic filter was to convert ammonia into nitrate, an electron acceptor that could convert soluble organic matters into volatile suspended solid (VSS) in the USB. The accumulated as well as influent VSS in the USB was finally degraded to fermented products that were another good carbon source for denitrification. Total COD, settleable COD and soluble COD in the raw sewage were 325, 80 and 140 mg/l, respectively. Most unsettleable COD as well as some SCOD in the influent was successfully removed in the USB. TCOD removal in the anoxic filter was by denitrification with the recycled nitrate. Low COD input to the aerobic filter could increase nitrification efficiency, reduce the start-up period and save the aeration energy in the USB-AF system. About 95% of ammonia was nitrified in the aerobic filter with no relation to the influent ammonia concentration. Denitrification efficiency of the recycled nitrate in the anoxic filter was about 85, 83, and 72% at recycle ratios of 100, 200, and 300%, respectively. T-N removal efficiency was 70% at recycle ratio of 300%.     

Treatment of wine distillery wastewater by high rate anaerobic digestion.

Wine distillery wastewaters (WDW) are acidic and have a high content of potential organic pollutants. This causes high chemical oxygen demand (COD) values. Polyphenols constitute a significant portion of this COD, and limit the efficiency of biological treatment of WDWs. WDW starting parameters were as follows: pH 3.83, 4,185 mg/l soluble COD (COD(s)) and 674.6 mg/l of phenols. During operation, amendments of CaCO3 and K2HPO4, individually or in combination, were required for buffering the digester. Volatile fatty acid concentrations were < 300 mg/l throughout the study, indicating degradation of organic acids present. Mean COD(s) removal efficiency for the 130 day study was 87%, while the mean polyphenol, removal efficiency was 63%. Addition of 50 mg/l Fe(3+) between days 86 and 92 increased the removal efficiencies of COD(s) to 97% and of polyphenols to 65%. Addition of Co(3+) improved removal efficiencies to 97% for COD(s) and 92% for polyphenols. Optimization of anaerobic treatment was achieved at 30% WDW feed strength. Removal efficiencies of 92% and 84% were recorded at increased feed strength from days 108 to 130. High removal efficiencies of COD(s) and polyphenols after day 82 were attributed to the addition of macronutrients and micronutrients that caused pH stability and thus stimulated microbial activity.     

Occurrence and reduction of pharmaceuticals in the water phase at Swedish wastewater treatment plants

During the last decade, several screening programs for pharmaceuticals at Swedish wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been conducted by research institutes, county councils, and wastewater treatment companies. In this study, influent and effluent concentrations compiled from these screening programs were used to assess the occurrence and reduction of non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals for human usage. The study is limited to full-scale WWTPs with biological treatment. Based on the data compiled, a total of 70 non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals have been detected, at concentrations ranging from a few ng/L to several μg/L, in the influent water. The influent concentrations were compared with the sale volumes and for many pharmaceuticals it was shown that only a small fraction of the amount sold reaches WWTPs as dissolved parent compounds. Pharmaceuticals with low reduction degrees at traditional WWTPs were identified. Further comparison based on the biological treatment showed lower reduction degrees for several pharmaceuticals in trickling filter plants compared with activated sludge plants with nitrogen removal.     

曝气生物滤池去除有机物及氨氮的影响因素分析

采用以陶粒为填料的曝气生物滤池(BAF)处理生活污水,研究气水比、水力负荷、进水COD和NH3-N负荷对BAF去除COD及NH3-N的影响,分析COD及NH3-N沿滤柱的变化规律。结果表明:当试验进水COD及NH3-N质量浓度分别为300~370mg/L和20~40mg/L时,最佳气水比为4∶1~5∶1,最佳水力负荷为1.0~2.0 m3/(m2.h)。当进水COD负荷为1.69~6.47 kg/(m3.d)时,COD去除率与进水COD负荷成正相关。BAF的硝化性能与进水NH3-N和COD负荷成负相关。     

The removal of pathogens in surface-flow constructed wetlands and its implications for water reuse.

Microbiological quality represents the biggest concern to the reuse of treated wastewater. This paper reports and discusses the results of an international survey on the removal of indicators of microbiological contamination in surface-flow constructed wetlands. Constructed wetlands consistently provide a reduction of 90-99% (1-2 log-removal) in the concentration of indicators such as coliform bacteria and faecal streptococci. This removal is found in wetlands treating water from different types of pretreatment (primary sedimentation, activated sludge, trickling filter, maturation ponds). On the other hand, when the influent is of high microbiological quality, wetlands act as sources of pathogenic contamination. The final water quality, however, is still compatible with medium to no-contact recreational activities and other final water uses. High variability in the effluent quality and seasonality might limit the opportunities for reuse. The role of constructed wetlands in different treatment schemes and the remaining open questions concerning removal mechanisms and reference pathogens are discussed.     

Nitrogen dynamics in a constructed wetland system treating landfill leachate.

A pilot scale treatment system was established in 2002 at the Laflèche Landfill in Eastern Ontario, Canada. The system consists of a series of treatment steps: a stabilisation basin (10,000 m3), a woodland peat trickling filter (5,200 m2), a subsurface flow constructed wetland planted in Phragmites sp. (2,600 m2), a surface flow constructed wetland planted in Typha sp. (3,600 m2) and a polishing pond (3,600 m2). The system operates from May to December with leachate being recycled within the landfill during the winter months. Hydraulic loading was increased three-fold over four operating seasons with nitrogen and organic mass loading increasing six-fold. Excellent removal efficiencies were observed with 93% BOD5, 90% TKN and 97% NH4-N removed under the highest loading conditions. Almost complete denitrification was observed throughout the treatment system with NO3-N concentrations never exceeding 5mg L(-1). The peat filter reached treatment capacity at a hydraulic loading of 4cm d(-1) and organic loading rate of 42 kg BOD ha(-1) d(-1), which is consistent with design criteria for vertical flow wetland systems and intermittent sand filters, The first order plug flow kinetic model was effective at describing TKN and ammonium removal in the SSF and FWS wetlands when background concentrations were taken into account. Ammonium removal k-values were consistent with the literature at 52.6 and 57.7 yr(-1) for the SSF and FWS wetlands, respectively, while TKN k-values at 6.9 and 7.7 yr(-1) were almost an order of magnitude lower than literature values, suggesting that leachate TKN could contain refractory organics not found in domestic wastewater.     

Rethinking sewage treatment by enhancing primary settling with low-dosage lime.

This work presents a thorough fractionation of COD in raw sewage, followed by pilot plant coagulation tests with low-dosage lime (pH 9). Through a physical separation (sieving and crossflow filtration) total COD in the raw sewage was partitioned among eight size fractions in the range of 150-0.02 microm. In addition, respirometric tests were performed to measure the biodegradability of the different size fractions. More than 60% of COD was associated with settleable and supracolloidal particles (size > 1 microm), which are characterised by slow biodegradability. Coagulation with lime increased COD removal efficiencies in the primary treatment from typical 30-35%, up to 65-70%, suggesting that lime may induce the almost complete removal of the slowly settling, slowly biodegradable supracolloidal particles in the primary treatment. On the basis of these results a non-conventional sewage treatment scheme is proposed, considering that there is plenty of space for improving primary treatment efficiency through sewage coagulation. Higher primary treatment efficiency may present several advantages, including lower aeration energy in the subsequent biological unit and higher energy recovery from sludge digestion.     

Winery and distillery wastewater treatment by anaerobic digestion.

Anaerobic digestion is widely used for wastewater treatment, especially in the food industries. Generally after the anaerobic treatment there is an aerobic post-treatment in order to return the treated water to nature. Several technologies are applied for winery wastewater treatment. They are using free cells or flocs (anaerobic contact digesters, anaerobic sequencing batch reactors and anaerobic lagoons), anaerobic granules (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket--UASB), or biofilms on fixed support (anaerobic filter) or on mobile support as with the fluidised bed. Some technologies include two strategies, e.g. a sludge bed with anaerobic filter as in the hybrid digester. With winery wastewaters (as for vinasses from distilleries) the removal yield for anaerobic digestion is very high, up to 90-95% COD removal. The organic loads are between 5 and 15 kgCOD/m3 of digester/day. The biogas production is between 400 and 600 L per kg COD removed with 60 to 70% methane content. For anaerobic and aerobic post-treatment of vinasses in the Cognac region, REVICO company has 99.7% COD removal and the cost is 0.52 Euro/m3 of vinasses.     

Size fractionation of COD in urban wastewater from a combined sewer system.

The objective of this work was to determine the partitioning of the pollutant load in urban wastewater in order to improve the conventional sewage treatment. In addition to settling tests, physical fractionation of COD in the degritted influent of Roma-Nord sewage treatment plant was performed via sequential filtration through sieves and membrane filters of the following pore size: 150-100-50-25-1-0.2 microm, and 100 kD (about 0.02 microm). Biodegradability studies were also performed on the different size fractions. Size fractionation showed that COD in Roma-Nord sewage is predominantly associated with settleable and supracolloidal (> 1 microm) particles, each size range including about 40% of total COD. Biodegradability tests indicated that the large fraction of COD associated with supracolloidal particles, which are not removed in the primary treatment, is characterised by slow degradability. This suggests that removal of these particles prior to biological treatment may greatly improve the overall treatment scheme. Preliminary pilot plant coagulation tests with lime at pH 9 showed that lime-enhanced primary treatment may increase COD removal efficiencies from typical 30-35% up to 65-70%, by inducing almost complete removal of the COD fraction associated with supracolloidal particles.     

Phosphorus removal from synthetic and municipal wastewater using spent alum sludge.

In the present study, phosphorus removal was studied using as coagulant spent alum sludge from a water treatment plant of EYDAP (Athens Water Supply and Sewerage Company) and compared to alum (Al2(SO4)3.18H2O), iron chloride (FeCl3.7H2O), iron sulfate (Fe2(S04).10H2O) and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) at a constant pH (equal to 6).The comparison was based on their efficiency to remove phosphorus in synthetic wastewater consisting of 10 mg/L P as potassium dihydrogen phosphate and 50 mg/L N as ammonium chloride, The experiments were carried out using a jar-test apparatus and the measurements were performed according to the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. Pure alum, iron chloride and iron sulfate were much more efficient in phosphorus removal than the spent alum sludge but in the case of calcium hydroxide, phosphorus removal was very low in pH = 6. Specifically, orthophosphate were totally removed by alum using 15 mg/L as Al, by alum sludge using 75 mg/L as Al and by FeCl3.7H2O or Fe2(SO4).10H2O using 30 mg/L of Fe while in the case of calcium hydroxide P removal was actually zero. pH measurements showed that the uptake of phosphates is associated to the release of OH ions in the solution and that the end of P uptake is accompanied by the stabilization of pH. Finally this spent alum sludge was tested on municipal wastewater and proved to be effective as apart from phosphorus it was shown to remove turbidity and COD.